DHAKA: The nation observed the International Mother Language Day (Amar Ekushey), paying tribute to the language movement martyrs, who laid down their lives for recognition of Bangla as an official language.
In the first hour of the day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, placed wreaths along with her cabinet and party colleagues at the Central Shaheed Minar in the capital at 12:01am. She stood there in silence for a minute in honour of the language heroes.
On behalf of BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia, leader of the opposition in the House, her party leaders placed wreaths.
Later the chiefs of the three services, the attorney general, diplomats, Dhaka University Teachers` Association, Sector Commanders Forum, other political parties and their wings paid homage to the martyrs.
Thousands of people from all walks of life and ages walked barefoot to the Shaheed Minar to pay tribute to the Language Movement heroes. They sang the February 21 anthem: Amar bhayer rokte rangano ekushey February.
Many people were seen placing flowers at the graves of the martyrs at Azimpur graveyard.
The Central Shaheed Minar and its adjacent areas on Dhaka University campus wore a different look with street paintings and graffiti with Bangla alphabets on the walls.
On this day in 1952, students and people from all strata of society took to the streets in Dhaka to protest the then Pakistan government`s refusal to recognize Bangla as one of the state languages and its attempt to impose Urdu as the only official language of Pakistan.
Salam, Barkat, Rafiq, Shafiur, Jabbar and a few other brave sons of the soil sacrificed their lives to establish Bangla as a state language of the then Pakistan.
The day has been being observed as the Language Martyrs Day since a UNESCO declaration on November 17, 1999.
Countries across the globe on this day vow to promote linguistic diversity and multilingual education and raise awareness of cultural traditions based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
The day is a public holiday. The national flag will fly at half-mast at all government, autonomous and private buildings.
